According to the Congress, a BJP MLA distributed money to buy voters and assaulting party workers who tried to stop them with police, in which their candidate was injured at Kolaras, after campaigning ended for by-election in Madhya Pradesh.

Trouble started in Khatora village in Kolaras late on Thursday night when Congress workers stopped an SUV belonging to Bhind MLA Narayan Singh Kushwah, alleging that the vehicle was filled with cash to be distributed along voters. Police reached the spot and used lathicharge to disperse the mob. In the action, Congress candidate Mahendra Singh Yadav and some of his supporters were also injured.

Mahendra alleged that Kushwah violated the model code of conduct. “His car had cash but the police helped his driver flee the spot with the money and instead beat us,” he said.

Police, however, said that the MLA has been booked under section 188 while adding if Congress comes up with any complaint, a case would be registered in their favour also.

BJP responded by issuing a picture of Mungaoli Congress candidate Brijedra Pratap Yadav meeting voters while one of his aides handed cash to them.

“The picture of Congress candidate was morphed. It is BJP’s desperation and fear of loss that they resorted to distributing cash and also got our men assaulted in Kolaras,” Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said.

He even claimed that the party has received pictures and videos of BJP MP from Sagar, Shailendra Jain, roaming in Mungaoli late at night after the campaigning ended and all outsiders were required to leave the constituency.

BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal termed Kolaras incident as well-planned drama from Congress leaders. “How come this was possible that several senior leaders reached New Delhi with the complaint barely hours after the campaigning ended,” he said.

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